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Primary Resource

Sir Walter Raleigh's Patent to Settle Virginia (1584)

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Dated December 14, 1584, this bill confirms Walter Raleigh's right to settle in those parts of
North America not already claimed by a Christian power. The bill, which passed the
English House of Commons but not the House of Lords, was not necessary—Queen Elizabeth had already
granted Raleigh these powers—but Raleigh likely used the occasion to gain support and
funds for his new expedition to Roanoke Island. Some spelling has been modernized.

Transcription from Original

An acte for the confermacion of the Quenes majesties Lettres Patentes graunted to
Walter Ralegh Esquire Touchinge the discoverie and Inhabitinge of certeyn Foreyne
Landes & Cuntries

Wheras the Queenes most exelent Majestie of her most gracious disposicion to the
Benyfite and proffite of her Realme of Englande emongeste sondrie other the singuler
frewtes of her goodnes towardes the same Hath by all good meanes endeavored, that the
gospell of our savior Jesus Christe might be trewlye and syncerelie sette forth, And
Ignoraunce error and supersticion Abolished within her Majesties Domynions, And is
also desirous that the knowledge of god and trewe religion might by her heighnes
Labors be propagatyd Amongeste foreign Nacions, The people of this her heighnes
Realme mainteyned and encresed And traficke to the most benefitte and Comodytie of
her lovinge subjectes as otherwise shulde spende there tyme in Idellnes to the greate
prejudice of the Common Welthe be trayned in vertuous and Commodyous Labor, And
beynge enformed of some greate hope of a discoverie to be hadd by her trustie and well
beloved servaunte Walter Raleigh Esquier of an unknowen Lande never heretofore
possessed by anye Christian Prynce or Christian people The nerenes whereof and
Infynite Comodities of the same mighte yelde unto this her Realme of Englande the
benefittes before remembred and manye others, Her majestie for the consideracions
aforesaid hath by her heighnes Letteres Patentes under her greate Seale of England
graunted unto the said Walter Raleigh in manner and forme folowinge vindelicet …

Sythence which Letters Patentes made & graunted as aforesaid to the said Walter
Rawleigh, There is discoverd by the meanes charge Labor & procurement of the said
Walter Rawleigh a Land called Wyngandacoia, not inhabited by anye Christian Prince or
Christian people And some of the people borne in those parties brought home into this
our Realme of England by whose meanes & direccion & by suche of her majesties
subjectes as were sent thyther by the said Walter Rawleigh singular great comodities
of that Lande are revealed & made knowen unto us which discoverie hath byn
heretofore attempted by dyverse persons & never brought to any suche
perfection

It maye therefore please the Queenes most exelent majestie with thassent of the Lordes
spirituall & temporall And the Comons in the presente parliament assembled And by
the aucthoritie of the same That it be enacted That the said Walter Rawleigh his
heires & assignes shall & maye by the aucthoritie of this present parliament
from henceforth for ever Have holde & enjoye the saide Land so discoverd with all
realties previledges powers prehemynences & authorities menconed & conteyned
in the said Lettres Patenes and all and singuler the grauntes Liberties priviledges
& other thinges therein conteyned shalbe by aucthoritie aforesaid Established
approved confirmed allowed and be effectuall unto the said Walter Rawleigh his heires
& assignes according to the tenour & purport of the said Lettres Patentes

Provided allwayes that this Acte or anie thinge therein contayyned shall not in any
wise be intended to geve any Licence power or Aucthority to any person or persons
beinge in Prison either vppon Execucion at the sute of any person for debte or being
imprisoned or under Arreste for any other cause whatsoever or the wife ward or
apprentyce of any other person or persons to departe this Realme or to geve Any
Lycence power or Aucthority to the said Walter Rawley hys heyres or assignes to
enlardge any such person or to take or sende any such person or persons over Sea or
[illegible word] or take any shipping, or furnyture for shipping withowt the assent
& good wylle of the person or persons this Acte or any thinge therein contayngned
to the contrary hereof in any wyse notwithstandinge